There was golfing on our “mancation,” our vacation designed specifically to do guy things. There was also batting practice in random fields we found along the way. Sure, there was a little gambling and an impossibly large basket of bacon that we left half-finished on the table. But the whole stated reason for our trip was to visit Minor League baseball fields around the state and in Ohio.

Driving 12 hours from Detroit, we crossed a drawbridge onto the island. Then we took a car ferry to the next island. Finally, we rode a small passenger ferry to this remote rock. If we want to go any further, it’ll be by kayak or backstroke.

Sometimes I simply love being a freelance writer and photographer. This past week was one of those times.

A large company in Southeast Michigan hired me to travel around photographing people, towns and neighborhoods in and about Detroit for the sole purpose of putting them in a brochure to attract potential employees.

I can’t be any more direct than that. You’ve probably heard about the movie, based on the massively best-selling John Green book of the same title. It centers around Hazel and Gus, two whip-smart teens who are both dealing with cancer. Yes, it’s a Young Adult story supposedly, but you’ll love it if you’re 90.

Like those old-school raves of the 1990s, we were informed where to go, but the note ended. “Psssst … now you know the location, so guard the secret.”

Hey, thanks for visiting.

If you have any questions, please email me at:

(Unless you’re selling freeze-dried iguana dung.)

Obligatory Bio Information:

Rodney Curtis has worked in a dozen newsrooms in Michigan and the East Coast during his 30-year career. A photographer and photo editor by training, Rodney also counts being an author, blogger and college professor among his many talents. Rodney brags a lot too, but does so under a third-person guise, so it’s okay.

His career has taken him to New Hampshire covering presidential primaries, the former Soviet Union, Haiti, all across Europe and through the mean streets and back-alleys of Troy, Michigan, his hometown. He was twice named Photo Editor of the Year and has won numerous photography, writing and editing/design awards.

Rodney has been lucky enough to have three books published, including: A “cute” Leukemia — a book of funny and heartfelt essays about him dealing with cancer and a transplant. He also wrote Getting Laid (off) about losing three jobs in one year. Spiritual Wanderer, his first book, has been described as Dave Barry meets David Sedaris.

He has taught several journalism courses at Michigan State University. And every fall he teaches at the prestigious Mountain Workshops, where he helps students photograph and edit a book about a different small Kentucky town in less than a week.

Rodney is married to photographer Marci Curtis who is, most notably, the author of three children’s books with more than two million copies in print.

Bring snacks.

Anyone have a good line on a yard pump? I’m looking for something that surely doesn’t exist, sort of like a reverse sprinkler. I want a device that sucks the water back off my lawn, into some pipes, then sends it along its merry way wherever water goes when it’s not welcome — the Southwest maybe.

I know it’s sacrilegious to moan about excess water during these days of extreme global climate change. But that’s sort of my point; any excess of any kind points to what scientists have proven long ago, we’re screwing around too much with Mother Earth.

Mary Magdalene tweeted the disciple’s secret location, tipping off the Romans. It’s okay, Jesus made her do it.

Pontius Pilate was a John Wayne impersonator.

The shepherds in their field at night were gang members.

But the most shocking thing maybe — apart from all the male and female body parts — was the Angel Gabriel being a lesbian who explained to Mary about virgin birth, “Honey, sometimes you just don’t need a man.”